and of course, iPod Touches (which are pretty much just like iPhones, except they don’t make calls, they use a Wi-Fi network to connect to the Internet.)

The Increasing Prevalence of Mobile Devices

Statistics suggest about 60 million, or 1 in 5, Americans currently owns a smartphone, but industry projections are that that half of us will own one by this time next year. And 275 million of us already own iPods. Wow.

How We’re Using Mobile Devices

40% of us have compared prices online with the ones in store using our smartphone;

35% of us have looked for discounts, deals, coupons, or discount codes on our phones while shopping;

34% of us have checked product availability at retail stores or websites on our phones;

33% of us have emailed or texted someone on our phones to tell them about our experience at a store; and

19% of us have used our phones to post something on a social networking site to convey that information.

What That Means for You

So, organizations, are you listening? Research shows that consumers are using their devices to find you; to look for deals you’re offering; to share their experience with you with others on sites such as Facebook and Twitter; and to compare your service, your pricing, and your quality with others elsewhere. Do you like what they are saying about you? (Do you know what they are saying — are you monitoring that?) And how does your organizational website look on a tiny mobile screen? Have you checked?

Coming Next Week

Part II of this entry will be my first post for the new year: a more philosophical discussion of what the rise of mobile means for you…and for the world.